[“WHY DO you wish for the world to end, Enzo Fenton?!”]

[“Just because.”]

[“‘Just because?!’” I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised. After all, right from the start, I knew there was something wrong with you. But I ignored it because I thought Nixie and I could help you change for the better!”]

[“What’s wrong with me?”]

[“You were the one behind the terrible things that happened in the academy before, right? The food poisoning… Klaus Irvin’s death… and the bombing incident on our graduation day… It was all you!”]

[“You just figured it out now?”]

[“Is it because of Nixie– because she chose me over you?!]

[“Pfft. This is one of the things I hate about you, Rivo Creswell. You think the world revolves around you and that woman.”]

Well, it kinda did.

After all, Rivo Creswell and Nixie Winslet were the main characters of The Legendary Fisher.

“I knew it,” Zirkus said as soon as he opened his eyes. “It wasn’t because of love.”

While he couldn’t move his body, his brain was working overtime to remember the lines or scenes in the novel that would help him “catch” Enzo Fenton– the first Disaster.

And that particular scene came to his mind.

[Rivo Creswell confronted Enzo Fenton, and the villain made it clear that he didn’t want to destroy the world just because Nixie Winslet rejected him.]

Zirkus believed Enzo Fenton.

[It’s plausible since it’s not in Enzo Fenton’s character to go crazy just because of love.]

He was curious about the REAL reason why the villain had turned into a Disaster, but he was more bothered by what Rivo Creswell said.

[“You were the one behind the terrible things that happened in the academy before, right? The food poisoning… Klaus Irvin’s death… and the bombing incident on our graduation day… It was all you!”]

“That crazy bastard,” Zirkus cursed under his breath, getting up. “Why would he even do those horrible things?”

“Are you talking about yourself?”

“Woah!”

Zirkus almost got a heart attack when he heard Enzo Fenton’s indifferent voice. “What the hell are you doing here?”

Enzo Fenton was plopped down on the sofa next to the bed.

[Bed…?]

Zirkus belatedly realized that he was in what seemed like the school clinic. “Ah, right. You beat me to a pulp.”

Just like most scenes in novels, the school clinic was empty.

Only Zirkus and Enzo Fenton were there.

[So cliché.]

“I didn’t beat you to a pulp,” Enzo Fenton denied lazily. “You were knocked out just after one hit.”

“Well, excuse me for being a weakling.”

“You’re excused.”

[This two-faced bastard…!]

“Why did you assume I was interested in Nixie in a romantic sense?”

“Am I wrong?”

“I’m not sure.”

Zirkus knitted his eyebrows. “You’re not sure if you like Nixie Winslet as a friend or as a girl? Is that what you’re trying to say?”

“I’m not sure if I want to kill you or not.”

[Aigoo… this scary bastard.]

“Are your feelings for Nixie Winslet supposed to be a secret?” Zirkus asked carefully. “If that’s the case, then I’ll carry your secret to the grave.”

“Are you saying you’ll allow me to kill you?”

Zirkus’ eyes opened wide. “Are you crazy? Why would I give you permission to kill me? I can’t die until I know how One P*ece ends.”

“One P*ece? Is that a story?”

Oho?

Was that interest Zirkus saw in Enzo Fenton’s usually bored face?

“It’s a masterpiece,” Zirkus said, smirking. “You’ll learn about friendship, effort, and victory once you read the peak fiction that is One P*ece.”

“I believe I already know what friendship, effort, and victory mean.”

“Are you sure?”

“…”

“This story I’m itching to share with you is about a young pirate with a rubber body who embarks on a journey to find the legendary treasure left behind by the Pirate King,” Zirkus said, teasing Enzo Fenton. “I’m telling you, my classmate. It’s peak fiction.”

Again, Enzo Fenton’s eye twitched.

And that made Zirkus realize something very important.

[Our dear villain enjoys fiction, huh?]

“My classmate, it’s okay even if the girl you like doesn’t like you back. There are other fish in the sea.”

“…”

[Okay, let’s suck up to him more.]

“Plus, you’re handsome.”

Enzo Fenton scoffed. “I know.”

Oh, wow.

[I wish I could say the same thing with that kind of confidence.]

<“You have to have that kind of handsome face first, Sheepy. Kekeke!”>

Zirkus, naturally, ignored the rude System.

“Good for you,” Zirkus said while clapping enthusiastically. “It’s always good to know your worth.”

“Shut it, Zirkus Huxford.”

Zirkus immediately stopped clapping. “Classmate, why are you here? You could have just left me here. But you waited until I woke up.”

“I told you– I was debating whether I’d kill you or not.”

“You can’t kill me.”

“Because…?”

“Because other than One P*ece, I also have other different stories that I can share with you.”

“Is that so?”

“Yep!”

“Then send me the first three chapters of one of the interesting novels you’re bragging about,” Enzo Fenton said, then he stood up– his gold eyes suddenly glowing menacingly. “If I don’t find that story interesting, I’ll kill you.”

“Heh,” Zirkus said, smirking haughtily. Thank goodness he was sitting! Had he been standing, his knees would have buckled already. The pressure coming from Enzo Fenton was heavy and frightening, after all. “I promise you– once you read my favorite series, you’ll forget about Nixie Winslet.”

Enzo Fenton just scoffed before leaving the school clinic.

Only then did he finally breathe.

“Fuck,” Zirkus cursed under his breath. “What story should I present that crazy bastard if I don’t want to die?!”

<“You’re dead meat, Sheepy! Kekeke~”>

***

“HEHEHE.”

That annoying, laughing voice came from Zirkus.

Right now, he was sitting in front of his desk.

A blank notebook and a fountain pen were on top of the table.

Fortunately, this fantasy world had notebooks and fountain pens already because he couldn’t imagine himself using a quill and ink to write on a scroll or something.

<“What story did you choose as a lifeline???”>

Zirkus smirked at the Window floating right in front of his face. “Are you curious, Blob?”

<“‘Blob?’”>

“Hehehe,” he laughed creepily again. “That’s the name I came up with for you, Blob.”

<“No, I don’t need a name–”>

“Your full name is ‘Blobfish.’”

<“…”>

“Kekeke.”

<“Hey, you fucking bastard! You named me after the fish that looks like a miserable, pink lump when out of water because it suffered devastating tissue damage due to the rapid depressurization as it was dragged to the surface–”>

“Yes, that blobfish,” he said, cutting off the nagging System. “Now shut your mouth, Blob. I need to concentrate in order to appease Enzo Fenton or else, this world will end with my death.”

<“…”>

Zirkus smirked when the System suddenly fell silent. “Thank you, Blob,” he said, then he picked up the fountain pen. “Now I’ll activate my <Nerd for Life Ability> to remember the first three chapters of a certain manga about a blond ninja, then use my <Trash Reporter Skill> to stay up all night turning it into a novel.”

<“Whatever, Shittyhead.”>

Wow.

Did Blob the System just change its stupid pet name for Zirkus from ‘Sheepy’ (short for ‘sheepshead fish’) to ‘Shittyhead?’